Windows Vista—the new Windows as finally been released.

Should you care, should you worry, should you upgrade? Here are some of the features you should know about.

Aero Glass

Anything that sounds expensive when you say it must be good, right?

Well that’s the case with Aero Glass, the new ‘user interface’ (UI) of Vista.

As long as you have a very modern PC, you can use ’aero glass’ to ‘Windows Flip’. This feature is a new way to manage the problem of having many programs open at one time.

Think of the ALT+TAB feature already available in normal windows, then add steroids.

As you ‘cycle through’ active windows with ALT+TAB you will see a live thumbnail of the running program rather than a classic icon.

Flip 3D is one step up again, whereby you can see a very large thumbnail of the open Windows.

Task Bar and Explorer thumbnails

If you hover your mouse over a program that is minimized to the task bar, you will see a live thumbnail of the program pop up (just like Windows Flip).

Also, there are new Explorer windows which display your files using thumbnails if you would like.

Instant Search

There is a zooped-up desktop search feature built into Vista.

Now you can find items like email, pictures, music and documents and programs all from the one spot on the start button.

Sounds Expensive?

Versions of Vista include: Home Basic; Home Premium; Business; and Ultimate.

I’ll save the price surprise for you to find out, but I am reminded of a Simpsons episode where Homer applies for credit for a new  RV (“Is that a good siren? Am I approved?”)